Flour-sifter.



0. ANDREWS, JR. FLOUR SIPTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15,1910.

$75M Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

[21 van for:

. r gy entrain s ra rss PATENT caries.

ANDREWS, JR., OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ANDREWS WIRE & IRON WORKS, 015 ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FLOUR-SIFTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Anonnws, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of lVinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flour- Sifters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a flour sifterwhich is so designed and constructed that the sifting operation can be easily and conveniently performed with one hand, thereby enabling the cook or other operator to sift the flour into the batter while, at the same time, stirring it in, or carrying on any other process desired, with the other hand. In order to make such a sifter of thoroughly satisfactory construction, it must be so arranged that sufficient force can be thrown into the ope ation to enable the sifting to be carried on vigorously, and, at the same time, it must be so arranged that it may be firmly held in the hand during the sifting opera tion.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an extremely simple construction, one having the least number of moving parts, or parts which may be subject to disarrangement, and, in general, to simplify the construction of the sifter as a whole.

Further objects and uses will appear from a detailed description of the invention and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. v

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows a plan view of my improved sifter, the sifting foot being shown in normal or return position; Fi 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, the sifting foot being shown in thrown position, or in the position which it occupies when the handle is compressed; and Fig. 3 shows a sectional elevation of the sifter, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown in the drawing, my improved sifter comprises a body portion t, provided with any suitable form of screen 5, which may be secured to the body portion as de sired. The handle 6 comprises a portion 7 secured to the body 4:, and having firmly attached thereto or terminating in a spring 8.

In the preferred form of construction, the sifting member comprises a sifting foot 9, adapted to vibrate across the face of the screen 5 and suitably connected to the handle Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 15, 1910.

Patented Oct. l, 1910.

Serial No. 549,498.

6, so that compression of the latter will move the sifting foot 9 in one direction, and so that release of such compression will allow the sifting foot to be restored to its former position. The preferred form of construction of the sifting member is one in which the foot 9 is connected to, or forms a portion of, a shank 10, which in turn terminates in or is connected with a lever 11. his lever is then so connected with the spring portion of the handle that compression of the latter will turn the lever. In the preferred construction, the lever ll terminates in a pin 12, adapted to be actuated by a loop 13 connected to or forming a part of the spring 8. The shank 10 is preferably journaled within a bearing 14 formed by properly bending a piece of metal and attaching the same to the body 4:, as by riveting or soldering.

In the construction shown, the portion 7 of the handle comprises side plates 15 and 16 secured to the body portion at one end and having riveted between them the spring 8. However, it is evident that it is my object to provide a construction in which the spring and handle shall be so united or attached together that by gripping them in the hand, the sifting feet will be vibrated.

It is seen that my construction provides an extremely simple and, at the same time, durable and satisfactory sifter; for a device in which the sifting operation is carried on by squeezing or gripping a handle of this kind may be firmly held and operated without the necessity of manipulating the fingers, and without the necessity of using both hands.

A further object achieved by my sifter is that the entire sifting mechanism, that is, the sifting foot, shank 10, lever 11, and pin 12, may be bent, or otherwise formed, from one piece of material, preferably wire, and thus may be of the maximum degree of strength and made in the cheapest manner. Furthermore, the construction of the handle is such as to enable it to be very cheaply made, there being no gears or other parts requiring considerable work in their manufacture and assembling.

I claim:

1. In a sifter, a body portion, a sifting member, and a compressible gripping member in the form of a handle and forming an actuating member for the sifting member,

the compressible gripping member being in the form of a U-shaped spring, one end of said U-shaped spring being rigidly attached to the body portion and the free end of the spring being operat-ively connected to the sitting member whereby compression and relaxation of the compressible gripping member serves to actuate the sifting member, substantially as described.

2. In a sitter, a body portion, a sifting member including a sitting foot, and a compressible gripping member in the form of a handle and directly actuating the sitting member, the compressible gripping member comprising a U-shaped spring, one end of said U-shaped spring being rigidly attached to the body portion and the free end of the spring being slidably connected to the sift ing foot whereby compression and relaxation of the compressible gripping member serve to actuate the sifting member, substantially as described.

CHAS. ANDREXVS, J R. \Vitnesses FRANCES M. FROST, \VALKER BANNING. 

